Invertible rolling harrow



Oct. 28, 1952l s. MocL-ENEGHAN, JR 2,615,291 INVERTIBLE. ROLLING HARR'ow Filed Nov. 19, 1949 g z smE'rs-sl-:EET 1 Tjah 43 n 32 37 ""mww 3e 3e 35 29 34 INVENTOR SAMUEL MCCLENEGHAN JR.

ATTORNEY Oct. 28, 1952 s. MCCLENEGHAN, JR 2,615,291

INVERTIBLE ROLLING HARROW Filed Nov. 16, 1949 2 SHEETS--S-{EET 2 INVENTOR .SAMUEL MSCLENEGHAN JR,

- lax/MMM ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 28, 1952 2,615,291 INVERTIBLE ROLLING HARROW Samuel McCleneghan, Jr., Valley,'Nebr., assignor to Valley Manufacturing Company, Valley, Nebr., a corporation of Nebraska Y ApplicationNoyember 16, 1949, SerialNo. 127,542

The present invention relates to agricultural implements and, more particularly,to a new and improved rotary harrow arranged to be attached to a plow or the like.

An important object consists-in providing a harrow with spaced rotary blades so disposed as to prepare thev soil for planting by pulverzing and compactingr the earth into a smooth surfaced and homogeneous seed bed, and in which the parts of the harrow are constructed andarranged to enable the saving of labor by means for eiciently discing, harrowing, and compacting the earth simultaneously with the plowing operation.

A further object comprehends the r.provision of a harrow frame having a front section and a rear section hinged'to the front section so that the sections are free to follow the surface of the soil over which they" are moved. Transversely mounted on the front and rear sections are inclined shafts having spaced .hubs provided with radially and outwardly extending circumferentially spaced blades. The hubsand blades on the front shaft are of larger diameter and size, and spaced wider apart than the hubs and blades on the .rear shaft so that the earthvis initially broken up by the large blades to' reduce the large portions of plowed soil Without` clogging, and then the earth is pulverized and reduced by the smaller blades so as to insure proper treatment of the soil.,l The blades on the hubs of the front shaft are preferably inclined or disposed at an angle relative to the axis of the hubso. as to move in a spiral path through the soil, while the smaller blades on the hubs of the rear shaft are perpendicular to the axis ofthe rear hubs.

A further object is to provide an invertible or reversible harrow having transversely spaced inclined rows of blades, each of which blades is formed with a leading edge or side' longer than its trailing or rear edge, and which is connected at its outer end to the rear edge by an inclined or bevelled edge provided with a pointed end at the juncture of the inclined side with the` front side so that when theblades'are positioned to cause the leading pointedend thereof to initially strike the soil, it will impart a Wedging and tearing action and then a` packing and compacting action. This action of the blades may be changed by inverting or turning the harrow frame over so that the tapered edges of the blades will now strike or engage the soil flatly and then penetrate, turn and break up the soil during the spiral path of the blades through the soil, and thus increase the soil packing simultaneously e oiaims. (o1. 55-11) with the pulverizifngacuon imparted' to k,the soul Other objects andvvvadvantages of the invention will become apparent Afrom the `following descrip:y

tionwhen taken in .conjunction with the accorn'` panyng claims and drawings.

Referring to the drawings i a preferred embodiment of the invention:

Figure 1 is a plan View of a reversible harow' constructedin accordance with'theinventioni. a

Figure 2 is `a longitudinallfsectional view'df Figure l.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional "fview :takei'if substantially along the line 3-.-3 of Figure l.

Figure 4 is a detail perspective vielwzof one oiv the hubs and its associated blades carried by the inclined shaft lon the front section of the frani'e;

Figure 5 isa detailv'sectio'nal VieWof...onenof the hubs andits blades carried by `the shaft on the rear section of the frame. Y

Figure' is a detail perspective View ofthe 'v hinged connection of theframe sections. 'f

Figure '7 is a sectional view taken substantially l' along the line 1-1 of Figure 6, and'.v v,

, Figure 8 isa side elevational View associated parts inverted.

the draft bar I4l by any suitable fasteningfne'an v such as the threaded bolts l5 and the" nuts? E:

the bolts or pins I8 which exts'e'rfdfthroug'hl aligned transverse openings'l (Fig. 7)'` formed in the overlapping end portions ofthe side bars Il 'and i1, respectively. Each of the bolts 'l3`preierably has an enlarged head 20 at one end and its 'opp'oljy site end provided with-a'transverse aperture v'for n receiving a cotter pin or the like 2|. 'In'V ordert limit the vertical swinging movemefltv 0f the lf section of the framevrelative to'the' front section thereof, a stop sleeve or member-22`sfweldedto.

each of thev outer surfacesv of theyfront sides-111 as at 23, and has extending `laterally from "one side thereof a substantially U-shapedportion 24j (Fig. 7) provided with spaced' longitudinalr arms 25 welded as at 26 .to .the adjacent `side ro the member 22 to provide aspace. or chamber into which loosely' extends the outerjend"off a' side bar I1 which is pivotally' connected tojtlie front bar Il bythe transverse bolt` i8 (Fig.'"6)." Y

y "similar A'to 'I i Figure 2` butl showing the harrow frame*andflvits The side bars` ll and the draftbar Miconstitutie y a front section of the fr ame'to which is pivotally connected the side barsv l1 of' ar rear sectionfby`k` 'Thus, it will be seen that as the side bars I'I swing about their pivots I3, their upward and downward movement will be limited by engagement Vwith the adjacent inner walls of the opposed hinged sections and which has threaded end porloV tions 3G extending through aligned transverse openings 3l in the front side bars l I and towhich are connected the locking nuts 32 and the retaining nuts 33. Rotatably mounted on the shaft 29 is a bearing tubing or sleeve 34 which preferably is formed at each end with a tubular housing .35 that has an enlarged hollow portion36 in which are mounted the ball bearings :il` and the removable retaining members 38. The housing alsohas aY reduced inwardly extending tubular portion 39 that maybewelded or otherwise suitably-connected to the adjacentinner wall of the tulzaingfBd so th'atthe latter is rotatably supported bythe ballbearings 3T on' the shaft 29 when the I parts are assembled'. j

Rotatably mountedl lori/the tubing 34 are a series orplurality of hubsill whichrare spaced from'` each/ otherby the "sleeves ll and which preferably have vat least one of the'hiubs,v such as thehub t2 .(Fig. 3),`keyed as Lat 43 tothe vtubing 34' so 4as to be non-rotatably `connected thereto,' w hileithe remaining Vhubs .are rotatably and independentlymounted on-'the tubing. Each Vvof the 'hubs 4U (Fig;14)has extending laterally and outwardly therefrom the circumferentially Vspaced bladesftli'jthat are inclined or angularly Vdisposed' relative to; the transverse Vaxis of the hub. Fach of theY bladesfliflpreferably has a leading edge or side E15 (Figi) longer in length thanitstiailingor rear'edge 46 and is connected abitsouter en'dtoV thefrear side thereof by an g Yinclined',ortap-ered, straight, iiat edge il which vforms a prltedfend with the juncture of the ffrcntm'edge 45.1 Thus, it willy be. seen that the Y. vfront and rear sides aiefshaped an-d connected to agitateand compact'the soil and also to force 4under oldyegetable matter so as to form a humus forehriching the soil.

y LA transverse shaft 49' disposed diagonally with lrespect `,to the'liorizontal transverse Vaxis of the lhingedsections and is-connected to the rear side "153135117 .`(Fig.f2) 'andhas threaded ends which extendit'hrcugh aligned openingsin the side bars I land are securedthereto by the bolts 59. The

l shaft'rotatably carriesla bearing tube or sleeve similar; to the tubing 311, 'previously described, and on which is rotatably mountedl the uniformly i y'spaced transverse hubs 5I that are maintained improper spacedpositionrelative to each other by the sleeves Vor ,i-thi-mbles 52. `To each of the tintosY 5i are ,-connectedgradially and outwardly extending -bladesvvgwhich are disposed substantially at right angles` or perpendicular yto the axis of thevhub (Egadi-Each-of the blades 5,3 has ad'leadingor front edgekd which connected by aftaperedor inclined side 55 to the rear edge 55. The hubs 54 and their associated blades or spiders are' smaller than the. 'forward hubs t0 and the inclined blades; '413, and are spaced closer to each other. One'of the hubsr may be keyed toits asSc'SCiatedv Al'oeari'ng tubing in a manner similar to the connection of the Vhub'ilZ previously del scribedtwhile the other hubs so @nime rear shaft 49 are rotatably mounted thereon. The :frame l I0 having the angular offset or inclined harrows ,may be connected by the draft bar Id and the 4independent movement ofthe front and rear sections in a vertical plane so as to insure eliicient operation of the pulverizing and compacting blades. As the hubs and blades on theA front shaft fare -of vlarger diameter and spaced Wider than theihubs and' blades on the rear shaft, it will be seenthat the inclined front blades Will have a spiral path as they move through the soil so as to initially break up and reduce the large portions of the soil without clogging the same. At the same time, thesmaller blades on the rear frameA section tend y,td further pulverize or reduce the size of the earth particlesaridthen impart a packing .action so las `to properly prepare the soil prior to seed planting or thel like. l

In operation, afssurningt'he narrow frame and its associated parts are in thegposition as shown inFigures l and 2, it will be seen `that as the hairovv is drawn along the ground by the plow, rotation is imparted to the front and rear hubs '.40 and El so that .the blades are moved in the direc-A tion of thearrows, as shown in Figure 2. As the' of the blades :strike the soil flatly and then continue to penetrate, turn and break up the soil during the spiralpath ofthe inclined blades d4.

VThis soil is then further reduced or pulverized and packed by engagement .of the smaller blades 53 carried by vthe rear fshaft.' rhus, it will be seen that as the harrow frame is reversible, the soil may be subjected to 'Varied working operations at a minimum expenditure of'time, eiort and cost by discing, harrowing and compacting the soil simultaneously during the plowing operation for preparing the seed bedding or otherwise treating the soil. Y A

`It will be understood that the form of the invention shown is merely illustrative of a preferred embodiment and 4that such changes may be made ascome Within thefsco'pe-of the following claims.

I claim:

1. An agricultural machine of the class described rincluding Aan invertible frame having a front section and a rearl section hinged to the front section, a transverse isha-ft connected to the sides ofthe front section, spaced hubs mounted on. said shaft, each of'said .hubs having circumferentially spaced blades extending radially and said blades having a leading edge and a trailing edge of shorter length than the leading edge and connected by a tapered edge to the front edge so that as the frame is moved over the ground the leading edge imparts a wedging and tearing action to the soil, said frame when inverted positioning the blades so that the tapered edges initially engage the soil flatly and as the blades penetrate they turn and break up the soil.

2. An invertible harrow as called for in claim 1, in which stop means are provided for limiting the swinging movement of the rear section relative to the front section of the frame.

3. A harrow including a frame having a front section and a rear section hinged to the front section, a horizontal shaft connected to the sides of the frontl section and disposed diagonally with respect to the horizontal transverse axis of said hinged sections, spaced hubs mounted on said shaft, each of said hubs having eircumferentially spaced blades extending radially and outwardly therefrom, a horizontal shaft connected tothe sides of the rear section and disposed diagonally with respect to the horizontal transverse axis of said hinged sections, spaced hubs mounted on the shaft of the rear section and having circumferentially spaced blades extending radially and outwardly therefrom, and means on each shaft for maintaining the hubs uniformly spaced thereon, the hubs and blades on the shaft of the front section being larger and spaced further apart than the hubs and blades on the shaft of the rear section so that the larger blades act initially to break up the soil and the smaller blades function to pulverize the soil previously broken up by the larger blades and then compress and pack the soil.

4. An invertible harrow including a frame having a front section having spaced side members and a rear section having side members hinged to the front side members, a horizontal shaft connected to the sides of the front section and disposed diagonally with respect to the horizontal transverse axis of said hinged sections, bearing tubing rotatably mounted on said shaft, transversely spaced hubs mounted on said tubing, means for non-rotatably connecting one of the hubs to said tubing, each of said hubs having circumferentially spaced blades extending radially l and outwardly therefrom and disposed at an inclined angle relative to the hub axis, means on said tubing for maintaining the hubs in proper spaced position, a horizontal shaft connected to the sides of the rear section and disposed diagonally with respect to the horizontal transverse axis of said hinged sections, said shaft having a tubing rotatably mounted thereon, circumferentially spaced blades extending radially and outwardly from each of the hubs on the shaft on the rear section and disposed substantially at right angles to the hub axis, and spacer means between the hubs on the rear section shaft.

5. An invertible harrow as called for in claim 4, in which the blades and hubs on the front section are of larger diameter and spaced wider apart than the blades and hubs on the rear section, and means for limiting the swinging movement of the rear section of the frame relative to the front section.

6. An invertible harrow including a frame having a front section and a rear section hinged to the front section, means for limiting the swinging movement of the rear section relative to the front 4 section of the frame, ahorizontal shaft connected to the sides of the front section and disposed diagonally with respect to the horizontal transverse axis of said hinged sections, bearing tubing rotatably mounted on said shaft, transversely spaced hubs mounted on said tubing, means for non-rotatably connecting one of the hubs to said tubing, each of said hubs having circumferentially spaced blades extending radially and outwardly therefrom and disposed at an inclined angle relative to the hub axis, means on said tubing for maintaining the hubs in proper spaced position, a horizontal shaft connected to the sides of the rear section and disposed diagonally with respect to the horizontal transverse axis of said hinged sections, said shaft having a tubing rotatably mounted thereon, circumferentially spaced blades extending radially and outwardly from each of the hubs on the shaft on the rear section and disposed substantially at right angles to the hub axis, spacer means between the hubs on the rear section shaft, said bladesv having tapered pointed leading edges inclined downwardly and rearwardly so that as the frame is moved over the ground, the point of each blade engaging the soil initially imparts a wedging and tearing action and then a packing and compacting action, said blades when the frame is inverted causing the tapered edges of the blades to engage the soil iiatly and penetrate, turn and break up the soil durmg its spiral path through the soil.

SAMUEL MCCLENEGHAN, J R.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS f Number Name Date 1,183,828 Bjorkman May 16, 1916 1,455,729 Ingman May 15, 1923 1,655,712 Reynolds Jan. 10, 1928 2,229,746 Krause Jan. 28, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 17,397 Denmark May 28, 1913 34,433 Sweden Dec. 31, 1910 155,050 Switzerland Aug. 16, 1932 

